Franklin Theatre

    Our Story


    Our enduring romance with the Franklin Theatre began in the summer of 1937 when the marquee first illuminated Main Street, invited Middle Tennesseans to buy a ticket – and laugh, cry and dream. Inside the theater walls, moviegoers enjoyed fresh popcorn, afternoon matinees and first kisses. They walked away with a lifetime of memories.

    Over the next 70 years, the world changed a lot – but the Franklin Theatre stood as a testament to a simpler way of life. But time eventually took its toll on the venerable movie house, and the doors closed in 2007 under the pressing of rising rents and the trend toward mega-theaters.

    Enter the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. Rather than lose the heart of Main Street, the nonprofit preservation group stepped in to buy and rehabilitate the historic landmark. After three years of work – and an investment of more than $8 million – the historic Franklin Theatre re-emerged better than ever.

    The new Franklin Theatre continues the cherished tradition of showing movies, but also adds a new dimension to Main Street – live music. With a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, and undeniable charm, the Franklin Theatre is destined to be an entertainment and cultural icon for years to come.

    Venue Details
    Working Hours
    • Weekdays
      12:00 - 5:00
    • Saturday
      09:00 - 23:59
    • Sunday
      09:00 - 23:59
    Venue Details
    Working Hours
    • Weekdays
      12:00 - 5:00
    • Saturday
      09:00 - 23:59
    • Sunday
      09:00 - 23:59
    Venue Map
    Events of the Venue
    You might also love these events.
    July 17, 2025
    7:30 pm
    The Franklin Theatre Songwriters Series welcomes Justin Wilson, Ray Fulcher, and Channing Wilson on July 17! Hit songs by these writers include:  – “When It Rains It Pours” by Luke Combs– “Even Though I’m Leaving” by Luke Combs– “Drunk Me”...
    July 18, 2025
    7:00 pm
    A girl who’s sick of the social strictures of junior high is transformed into a grownup overnight. In this feel-good fairy tale, teenager Jenna wants a boyfriend, and when she’s unable to find one, she fantasizes about being a well-adjusted...
    July 21, 2025
    9:00 am
    The Franklin Theatre’s third annual Summer Sessions program for high school students returns this July! Hosted by Trey Bruce and a team of industry professionals, this three day intensive will provide students interested in careers in the music industry with...
    July 21, 2025
    7:00 pm
    When Miley Stewart (aka pop-star Hannah Montana) gets too caught up in the superstar celebrity lifestyle, her dad decides it’s time for a total change of scenery. But sweet niblets! Miley must trade in all the glitz and glamour of...
    July 22, 2025
    7:00 pm
    The world’s greatest wrestling Luchador is back—and he’s coming to the Franklin Theater! Nacho Libre! This movie is hilarious on its own and doesn’t need much added fun—but since it’s a Movie Gang Night, we’re taking it to the next level....
    July 26, 2025
    11:00 am
    ‘Filmmakers in Franklin’ – a new series exclusively at Franklin Theatre – presents Disney’s HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME screening and Q n’ A, with special guest, director Kirk Wise. Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 11:00am. Hosted by actress Leah Allers. About...
    July 26, 2025
    8:00 pm
    Highway 101’s Paulette Carlson, known for her unique vocal style and sound, is a renowned country music star who rose to fame in the late 1980’s as the founder and lead singer of the legendary band Highway 101. Signed to...
    July 27, 2025
    3:00 pm
    TICKET PRICES WILL INCREASE $5 AT THE DOOR DAY OF!   If you love Whose Line Is It Anyway?, you won’t want to miss Oddity Improv! The Franklin-based non-profit comedy troupe delivers fast-paced, interactive, and completely improvised performances based on audience...
    July 30, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Come celebrate Christopher Nolan’s Birthday here at The Franklin Theatre! The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in...
    July 31, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Vienna is a dynamic 8-piece band that brings the iconic music of Billy Joel to life. Featuring Nashville’s finest studio musicians, this tribute band is led by the incredibly talented Hal Stephens, whose voice perfectly captures the essence of Billy Joel himself.   With...
    August 1, 2025
    8:00 pm
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    August 2, 2025
    11:00 am
    Cabaret (High School Edition) Rated PG 13 | Dark Musical  Length: Two Act with Intermission | 2hrs 10min In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920’s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them...
    August 2, 2025
    3:00 pm
    Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr. Rated: GLength: One Act – 60 min Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who...
    August 8, 2025
    8:00 pm
    Child’s Anthem is a collection of some of Nashville’s finest studio and touring musicians, recreating the hits of Toto with extreme detail and energy. Lead singer Keith Landry actually toured with Toto during the Hydra tour in the 80’s. Recently...
    August 9, 2025
    8:00 pm
    Step back in time and immerse yourself in the glamour and charm of Come Fly With Me: A Tribute to the Sounds of Sinatra. This show brings together a talented ensemble of Nashville’s finest entertainers and musicians, who will take you...
    August 14, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Four Lads From Liverpool is a tribute concert to the Beatles, but none like you’ve ever seen before. Beatle tribute bands dress up like them and play songs from their catalogue.   But Mike Stewart and hit song writer, Pat...
    August 21, 2025
    7:30 pm
    The Franklin Theatre Songwriters Series returns in 2025 featuring Brandon Will, Scotty Hasting, and Doug Johnson! This series is made possible by Stable Reserve.    Brandon Will Brandon has earned respect in Nashville as a songwriter. He has collaborated with...
    August 22, 2025
    8:00 pm
    The son of a professional bull rider turned stuntman; C. Thomas Howell started working in the film industry at the young age of seven. In 1981, he was cast as ‘Tyler’ in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster film E.T. The Extra Terrestrial....
    August 23, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Deborah Allen is one of those rare artists who forged their own path to success and ended up building a world-class career in the process. An extraordinarily talented singer, songwriter,producer and performer, Deborah’s unique abilities as an artist maybe matched...
    August 30, 2025
    8:00 pm
    The Kings of Queen has been selling out venues nationwide and is considered one of the country’s Top Rated Queen Tributes. This fierce foursome is fronted by Emo Alaeddin, known for the looks and voice Freddie Mercury but also the...
    September 4, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Experience the magic of a night of high-energy entertainment with Music City Dueling Pianos, featuring the powerhouse duo Chris Hatfield and Benan Avci. This dynamic performance blends musical talent, comedy, and audience interaction into a nonstop party where you help call the shots. With decades of...
    September 7, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Monty Criswell is a Grammy and CMA nominated songwriter with over 300 songs recorded by artists such as Trace Adkins (Just Fishin’), George Strait (I Saw God Today), Scotty McCreery (Five More Minutes), Eric Church (Like Jesus Does, Hell of...
    September 11, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Three siblings unlock one harmony to unite the world as Girl Named Tom. The trio—Bekah, Joshua, and Caleb Liechty—notably made history as “the only group to ever win NBC’s The Voice.” Along the way, they’ve impressively generated over 25 million...
    September 13, 2025
    8:00 pm
    Let’s get this out of the way first: The Rembrandts—the pop-rock duo of multi-instrumentalists and songwriters Phil Solem and Danny Wilde—co-wrote the effervescent Friends theme song, “I’ll Be There For You.” That song, with its inimitable handclaps and jangly guitar...
    September 18, 2025
    7:30 pm
    Jimmy Woods Jimmy Woods is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose sound defies easy classification, blending the storytelling of country music with the raw emotion of indie and the soulful melodies of folk and rock. Originally from Connecticut, Jimmy made the leap...
    September 20, 2025
    8:00 pm
    Join McBride & The Ride for a unique performance that takes you back to the 90s, up to their most recent release, “Marlboros & Avon”. The only 90s vocal group with all original members – Terry McBride (mega-hit writer for...
    September 21, 2025
    7:00 pm
    “Do you love the music of Journey? How about the music of Heart? JOURNEY FROM THEHEART brings you the very best of BOTH rock legends!Witness Ryan Christopher (former lead singer for ResurrecMon – A Journey Tribute andlead singer of Black...
    September 24, 2025
    7:00 pm
    with Indio Downey and Tomas McCarthy   Multi-platinum selling, Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Geoff Tate is best known for his 30-plus years as the creative and driving force behind the progressive metal band Queensryche. Since its inception with Geoff at the...
    September 26, 2025
    8:00 pm
    SuperNova BILL EVANSTenor sax titan Bill Evans is a force of jazz evolution – a player who emerged from the crucible of Miles Davis’ band and carved his own trail through funk, fusion, and beyond. With multiple Grammy nominations and...
    October 1, 2025
    7:00 pm
    In conjunction with the release of their newest album on July 11th, “Pepper Tree Hill”, The Boxmasters will follow by kicking off a tour of the United States in August. This marks their 19th release as the ever-prolific J.D. Andrew...
    October 8, 2025
    6:00 pm
    Since first stepping into the pop spotlight at age 17, David Archuleta has embodied the kind of genuine star power that can’t be manufactured. After years of dazzling audiences with his radiant personality and phenomenal voice—a journey that’s included turning...
    October 10, 2025
    8:00 pm
    Noah Reid has earned a permanent place in the music industry as a result of his powerful vocals and honest delivery. Evident on his debut album Songs from a Broken Chair (2016), sophomore album Gemini. (2020) and his highly anticipated...
    October 11, 2025
    8:00 pm
    John will be performing his catalogue of hits from his 40 year career as a solo artist, with The Baby’s and Bad English.   John Waite’s catalogue of hits features some of the most loved songs of the 80s and...
    October 17, 2025
    8:00 pm
    For Taylor Hicks, winning “American Idol’s” blockbuster fifth season was just the beginning. Hailed as “part Stax, part Motown and part honky-tonk” by The New York Times, Hicks’ intoxicating blend of soul, blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll quickly rendered...
    October 19, 2025
    7:00 pm
    One of the most outstanding instrumentalists in rock over the past 40 years, Texas guitarist Eric Johnson was already a legend before he recorded his first album. By the early 1980s, many celebrated guitarists were singing the praises of this...
    November 7, 2025
    8:00 pm
    During their travel from Chicago to New York, Harry and Sally debate whether or not sex ruins a friendship between a man and a woman. Eleven years later, and they’re still no closer to finding the answer. Franklin Theatre
    November 10, 2025
    7:00 pm
    When young Buddy falls into Santa’s gift sack on Christmas Eve, he’s transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa’s helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can’t shake the nagging feeling that...
    November 12, 2025
    7:00 pm
    Since gaining prominence in the early 2000’s, ukulele marvel Jake Shimabukuro has mesmerized audiences with his innovative and dynamic style, taking the instrument to dizzying new heights. Over a dozen solo albums, Shimabukuro has shown a knack for moving effortlessly...
    November 15, 2025
    1:30 pm
    When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Franklin Theatre
    November 21, 2025
    8:00 pm
    From their beginnings in mid-Sixties Ohio as a group of friends playing cover tunes to the present-day unit featuring the propulsive team of drummer Scott Thompson and bassist Jared Camic, Keyboard Master Randy Harper, Guitar Ace/vocalist Jeff Zona and Pedal...
    November 24, 2025
    7:00 pm
    It’s Christmas time, and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration. But things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen, and their two kids. Clark’s continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he...
    November 25, 2025
    7:00 pm
    An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page, is heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving when a number of delays force him to travel with a well meaning but overbearing shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith. Franklin Theatre
    November 28, 2025
    5:00 pm
    Two talented song-and-dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. In time they befriend and become romantically involved with the beautiful Haynes sisters who comprise a sister act. Franklin Theatre
    November 29, 2025
    1:30 pm
    On Christmas Eve, divorced dad Scott Calvin and his son discover Santa Claus has fallen off their roof. When Scott takes the reins of the magical sleigh, he finds he is now the new Santa, and must convince a world...
    November 29, 2025
    8:30 pm
    Good-natured Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage to choir mistress Julia is flagging, due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all this, his church is coming under threat from property...
    November 29, 2025
    11:59 pm
    NYPD cop John McClane’s plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her offices Christmas Party, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help...
    November 30, 2025
    1:30 pm
    Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister makes the most of the situation after his family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on Christmas vacation. When thieves try to break into his home, he puts up a fight like no other. Franklin Theatre
    December 1, 2025
    12:00 pm
    In this Christmas classic, an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the chain's main store in midtown Manhattan. When Kringle surprises customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity.
    December 6, 2025
    10:00 am
    he Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas – but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart… Franklin Theatre
    December 6, 2025
    1:30 pm
    A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Franklin Theatre